The New Year Is A Time To Reach Forward

December 29, 2007|By Sonya Brundidge

I recently had this very interesting dream. As soon as I awoke, I knew it was a dream with a very personal message for me. God used dreams to speak to people thousands of years ago in Bible days, and He still uses dreams today.

In this particular dream, my sons and I were standing on a small, yet beautiful grassy cliff. Directly behind us was a very dense forest. Before me was a huge waterfall with rough and murky waters below. Immediately, I began removing my clothing and dove off this very high cliff.

Though I'm not a strong swimmer, I began to swim and was doing quite well, until I was met with another huge waterfall that I had to swim through. In the dream, I heard myself say, "Swimming through this waterfall is going to crush me," but I swam through it anyway. When I got to the other side, I realized that the waterfall didn't even hurt. As I looked around me, the place where I arrived was exquisitely beautiful with clear and calm waters. As I swam to the banks, I was met by a woman who said, "Congratulations, you did very well; many don't make it."

When I awoke, I asked God what the dream meant. I believe He showed me that the woods behind me were familiar, but too thick, dark, and dangerous for me to ever survive returning to. If I tried to, I'd get so lost and turned around that I would never come out again. Time would be lost forever.

The place where I had been standing was nice and comfortable, but too small to sustain me or my family for very long. The only choice was to face my fear of jumping off a perfectly firm foundation; dive into waters that were rough, murky, and unfamiliar; and swim forward through the roaring waterfalls.

In life we often desire going back to what is familiar, no matter how bad or unproductive it was. It might have even been wonderful, but it is now impossible to return to that time or place in our lives. The meter has expired and is no longer accepting coins.

We also desire remaining where it's nice and comfy, without realizing that we must soon make a change or we are going to perish. People in business sometimes refuse to make changes, as do people in relationships or even in their personal lives. But change is a part of life and to fail to recognize this need is to welcome destruction.

And then, we must definitely face our fears. I have a little fear of water and I do not like diving into the pool. However, I make myself do it anyway. I force myself to face what tries to conquer me. When I drive cross-country, I purposely choose mountainous, cliffy roads.

There are many areas in life that may cause us fear. But as long as Christ is near us, we need not be afraid. We must remember what Jesus said in Matthew 28:20: "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." I have come to realize that as I wholly surrender my life to Jesus Christ, He will do great and mighty things through me, regardless of the past.

In Philippians 3:12-13, the apostle Paul says, "Not that I have already attained or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do; forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

As we approach this New Year of 2008, let's embrace new beginnings. In order for something to begin, something else has to end.

Start this year out by surrendering your life and your will to Jesus Christ, for "if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17.

So don't look back; don't be afraid; dive in and enjoy your adventure with Christ.

Brundidge attends World Outreach Worship Center in Newport News. She can be reached at simplyseasonspublish@myway.com.